Police: State Rep. Changed Story During DUI Stop

DENVER (CBS4)– New documents related to the January 25 DUI stop of State Representative Laura Bradford show Bradford altered her story to police about how much she had been drinking, and a Denver cop said he kept quiet about what happened even though he was uncomfortable that Bradford was not arrested for DUI.

According to internal Denver police documents provided to CBS4 Tuesday, when Officer Brian Klaus stopped Bradford the night of January 25, the officer asked Bradford if she had been drinking.

“Yes, 1 glass of wine,” Bradford told Klaus.

But according to Klaus’ written reports, Bradford later responded, “3 glasses of wine.”

According to the reports, after Bradford failed roadside sobriety tests, Klaus told her that her blood alcohol level was roughly .20, way above the legal limit for DUI in Colorado.

Klaus stopped Bradford after he said her car nearly hit a parked vehicle.

Denver Police initially claimed Bradford was not cited for DUI due to her invoking an arcane portion of Colorado law that prevents the arrest of lawmakers if they are on their way to or from legislative work.

Denver Police later backpedaled on that story saying Bradford never invoked that clause and actually told officers she should be treated like any other citizen. But that did not happen and now Denver Police are conducting an internal investigation into the conduct of their officers.

Officer Klaus notes in his reports that he summoned a supervisor to the scene, Sgt. Benita Packard, when he realized he was dealing with a state legislator.

The Sergeant then contacted a DPD Lieutenant according to the newly released documents.

Officer Klaus writes that Sgt. Packard told him not to proceed with a DUI nor even write on the traffic citation that Rep. Bradford was intoxicated.

“Sgt. Packard informed me that a taxi was called and would be picking up the state rep”, wrote Klaus.

When police found a loaded handgun in Bradford’s vehicle, Klaus said,”Sgt. Packard then told me to keep the handgun part of the stop quiet and only we would know.”

Bradford told police she has a concealed weapons permit.

“I was disappointed in the first place that I had to let Mrs. Bradford go on the DUI,” Officer Klaus later told superiors. “I did not feel comfortable letting her go but I kept my mouth shut.”